Submarine deal could sink Israeli Prime Minister

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is again under scrutiny, this time over a $1 billion deal with Germany for the acquisition of three new submarines.

Political opponents are calling for an inquiry into what they view as the murky circumstances surrounding the framework agreement reached with Germany over the past year, apparently at Mr Netanyahu's urging, to buy the boats.

Mr Netanyahu, one of Israel's longest-serving prime ministers, now serving a fourth term in office, faces allegations of a possible conflict of interest in making the deal.

The issue came to light when Israel's Channel 10 News reported last week that Mr Netanyahu's personal lawyer also represents the Israeli agent of the German shipyard that builds the submarines, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

Both Mr Netanyahu and the lawyer, David Shimron, have denied any impropriety.